We cut through the hype and give the one thing lacking in so many places these days: an honest opinion. We're not going to put something down for the sake of it either. For an honest outlook on music (and other subjects), you're in the right place!
It’s a singles corner with a twist this week, we’ve got a new reviewer. Things have started to get busy here at Call Upon The Author and rather than keep letting things slip, we’ve got some fresh blood to share their opinions with you. There’s one gentleman still to introduce yourself, but today Emma joins us with her take on this weeks single releases
PLACEBO – Never Ending Why
Dreambrother
The first listen of Placebo’s latest offering almost makes you think of their mid-nineties heyday, bringing to mind classics such as Bruise Pristine. However a rockier guitar sound makes this a potential favourite for any ‘alternative’ club night.
ZERO 7- Medicine Man
Atlantic Records
A good first release from their forthcoming album but it feels as though they may have missed the boat with a September release date. With a distinctly summery vibe tinged with early Prince you can’t help but feel this would have been a fantastic soundtrack for a day at the beach.
DUB PISTOLS – I’m In Love
Sunday Best
Featuring Rodney P and Lindy Layton, this track conjures up images of chilled out sunny Sunday afternoons. The Influence of Beats Internationals is apparent and not just in their choice of Layton as vocalist but also in the laid back vibe of the song.
LR ROCKETS – Renee Loves Losers
CRTL. ALT. DEL.
Proving that Ramones influenced pop-punk is definitely not dead, Renee Loves Losers is a forceful guitar-led track. One first listen this is easily dismissed but stick with it, this tale of anti-romance will win you over.
FLORENCE & THE MACHINE – Drumming Song
Island Records
A definite favourite here at Call Upon The Author, Drumming song is another fine example of Florence’s fine talent. Right from the opening the passion in her vocals and the intensity of the backing music draws you in.
Werlcome to Videodrome, what promises to be a semi regular feature sharing new and exciting videos with our readers. In this edition we’ve got the masterful ‘Oklahoma’ from The Answering Machine. This is a song more addictive than crack and ice poles combined! We’ve got Fightstar’s single launch and the video for the utterly brilliant reworking of Mercy by The Third Degree. Lastly, but by no means least, is the video for Florence & The Machines new single ‘Drumming’, one of the standout tracks on what is already shaping up to be the album of the year.
Ah, Florence Welch, the poor dear has been surrounded by hype, had the millstone of the Critics Choice Brit Award hung around her neck and then been lumped in with the rash of electro-pop starlets cropping up in the UK music scene (hello Little Boots, La Roux et al). In the end of course, no amount of hype, excitement or indeed lambasting (for unlike last years media darlings Duffy and Adele Florence and the Machine have not been universally praised) can save them from the glaring eyes of the musicians most feared adversary… the critic. Thankfully young Florence has the perfect protection in the form of an album of, frankly, lovely tunes that are both well crafted and wonderfully simple. Opening with ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and following up with current single ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’ the album delivers a satisfying one-two punch of hits that would be impressive enough, even without so many other good tracks to follow. Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Maximo Park), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys) and Steve Mackay (Pulp) share production duties, but they all have the same approach, giving the songs plenty of breathing room and centring the sound around Welch’s deep and powerful vocals. It’s a pleasant change to hear such a warm and resounding sound coming from a young girls mouth after so many electro-poppers and their reedy brand of singing. Closing with a fun run through The Source’s (with Candi Staton of course) ‘You’ve Got The Love’, we’re reminded of this young girls sense of fun, and that’s exactly what this album is, great fun… backed up with some impressive song writing skill!
It’s been a few weeks since we caught up with our pick of singles releases, but with a big name, a familiar voice or two and a song that seems inescapabale, we’re back. So read on for our opinions and then why not share yours?
FLORENCE & THE MACHINE – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Island
Florence has made waves this year, steamrollering her way to awards and praise in the lead up to her debut album’s release (and check back later this week for our opinions on that). Dreamy and otherworldly, this is the perfect antidote to the synth pop of La Roux or Little Boots and we love it all the more for that!
LUCKY ELEPHANT – Edgar
Sunday Best
This friendly, summery track, skips along merrily, summoning up the feel of summer evenings on the bands native Isle Of Wight. Manu’s vocals sit strangely atop the mix, his French accent prominent and not quite in synch with the feel of the rest of the song, somehow though, it all comes together and forms something really quite lovely.
AYAH MARAR – My Spy
Hubba Hubba
Jordanian Marar’s debut single is a curious affair. It sounds like an od Nancy Sinatra or Eartha Kitt track remixed with modern technology. Interesting stuff and all held together by that haunting vocal. If Marar herself sounds familiar, you may remember her from collaborations with the likes of Calvin Harris and Jack Penate…
LISA HANNIGAN – I Don’t Know
Hoop Recordings
Sit back, take a deep breath and then breathe out all your worries one by one. Repeat for two minutes forty six seconds and you’ll understand what it’s like to hear this track. This is the aural equivalent of a load being lifted from your shoulders. Not big, not trendy, but lovely nonetheless.
THE THIRD DEGREE – Mercy
Tri-Sound
Yes, this is the Duffy’s Mercy, but not quite as you’d recognise it. The Third Degree have taken this song back to it’s roots. Imagine a big band rhythm & blues/northern soul sound with a wailing male vocal and you’re on the right path. The original has been played to death, but listening to this might just remind you how great a song it is, and either way, you’ll enjoy the experience!
DEBUT ALBUM LUNGS RELEASED ON JULY 6TH ON ISLAND RECORDS
NEW SINGLE ‘RABBIT HEART (RAISE IT UP)’ OUT JUNE 22ND
After releasing just two limited singles (‘Kiss With A Fist’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’) the magnetic Florence & The Machine has built up a formidable following of fans and critics alike, even winning this years highly prestigious Critics Choice BRIT Award. Now with the impressive debut album Lungs Florence Welch looks set to exceed all hype and expectation, blowing her contemporaries out of the water.
An insight into why the wonderful world of 22 year old Florence has mesmerized more than a few, the long player is an intoxicating mix of delicate fragility, dark humour and twisted Tim Burton style fairy-tales. Production duties come care of Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Jack Penate, Maximo Park), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, The Klaxons, Last Shadow Puppets) and Steve Mackay (Pulp, M.I.A), who were all eager to work with the young newcomer.
From the live favourite ‘You’ve Got The Love’ to the raw blues tinged ‘Girl With One Eye’ to the beautifully painful ‘Between Two Lungs’, the album is crammed with crowd pleasers. Also boasting fresh tracks like new single ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’, ‘Drumming’ – with its epic denseness, the terrifyingly brilliant ‘Howl’ and ‘Hurricane Drunk’ with it’s paradoxical charms of heartbreak, love and loss, Lungs promises to leave us wanting more of the insanely captivating Florence Welch.
ALBUM TRACKLISTING: 1. Dog Days Are Over
2. Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
3. I’m Not Calling You A Liar
4. Howl
5. Kiss With A Fist
6. Girl With One Eye
7. Drumming
8. Between Two Lungs
9. Cosmic Love
10. My Boys Builds Coffins
11. Hurricane Drunk
12. Blinding
Bonus: You’ve Got The Love
CATCH FLORENCE LIVE IN THE UK: May
22nd – 02 Academy, Birmingham
27th – Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
28th – Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
Acoustic set at Phonica as part of Island 50th
31st – Oran Mor, Glasgow
June
1st – St Phillips Church, Manchester
2nd – Concorde 2, Brighton
21st – Hurricane, Germany
26th – Blur support at Manchester M.E.N Arena
27th – Glastonbury (John Peel Stage)
July
3rd – Blur support at Hyde Park, London
4th – Hop Garden, The Isle Of Man
5th – Eurockness, France
11th – T in park, Scotland
12th – Oxygen, Ireland
18th – Lovebox, London
Ah, Florence Welch, the poor dear has been surrounded by hype, had the millstone of the Critics Choice Brit Award hung around her neck and then been lumped in with the rash of electro-pop starlets cropping up in the UK music scene (hello Little Boots, La Roux et al). In the end of course, no amount of hype, excitement or indeed lambasting (for unlike last years media darlings Duffy and Adele Florence and the Machine have not been universally praised) can save them from the glaring eyes of the musicians most feared adversary… the critic. Thankfully young Florence has the perfect protection in the form of an album of, frankly, lovely tunes that are both well crafted and wonderfully simple. Opening with ‘Dog Days Are Over’ and following up with current single ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’ the album delivers a satisfying one-two punch of hits that would be impressive enough, even without so many other good tracks to follow. Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Maximo Park), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys) and Steve Mackay (Pulp) share production duties, but they all have the same approach, giving the songs plenty of breathing room and centring the sound around Welch’s deep and powerful vocals. It’s a pleasant change to hear such a warm and resounding sound coming from a young girls mouth after so many electro-poppers and their reedy brand of singing. Closing with a fun run through The Source’s (with Candi Staton of course) ‘You’ve Got The Love’, we’re reminded of this young girls sense of fun, and that’s exactly what this album is, great fun… backed up with some impressive song writing skill!
